When Texas Tech University junior Ryan Reyna heard Raiderville leaders were holding off for the West Virginia game, he grabbed a tent and a few friends and started his own settlement.

In the area dubbed “TuberVILLE,” two tents sat outside Jones AT&T Stadium on Thursday afternoon, with a third expected to join in the evening.

“I was kind of disappointed that there wasn’t Raiderville this week, because it’s a big game, and they’re two top schools,” Reyna said. “I just felt if there wasn’t Raiderville, there shouldn’t be a problem with us coming out here and getting our own thing started and supporting the team.”

Reyna said he first saw the term “TuberVILLE” on redraidersports.com, and it stuck. He wasn’t trying to make an official name, but it seemed to fit.

“It’s ‘TuberVILLE: Home of the No. 1 defense in the nation,’ ” he said.

For years, students have camped out in a tent city known as Raiderville in anticipation of rival football games. It began outside the stadium, and was later moved to a grassy area on campus southwest of the stadium.

Associate athletic director Blayne Beal said students have not camped out in the location in front of the the stadium since 2008.

University spokesperson Chris Cook said the university has worked with the students to allow them early admission into the games. Texas Tech will work to accommodate the students and will not choose one group over the other, he added.

“If one group comes to us and says, ‘We want to look at exploring doing something next week for the OU game,’ we will listen to them and help them do that,” he said. “(This group) set up over here. We’re going to listen to them and monitor it.”

Beal said a procedure for getting the students staying in “TuberVILLE” into the game early hasn’t been decided yet. If the group grows too large for the area, Tech Athletics will take precautions to move them to a different location.

“There’s one tent out there now,” Beal said Thursday morning. “If it grows, we will implement some sort of procedure to get them in.”

Coach Tommy Tuberville stopped by for a few photos on Thursday, Reyna said.

Book said the university is trying to promote the official “black out” game to students, and “TuberVILLE” might help.

“We think it’s great,” he said. “We hope it builds some more excitement for our students. ... We want to encourage all students to get out here and be part of the game on Saturday.”

Reyna said he’s received support from fellow students on Twitter, but hasn’t heard from the Raiderville leaders since he started camping out. He said alumni showed support by donating three heaters and lunch on Thursday.

“I enjoy Raiderville,” he said. “I’ve done it the last two years. I still plan on doing it, it’s just that it wasn’t happening this week. I still want to support our team and get the best seat I can for the game.”

Colton Ancell, the 2012 mayor of Raiderville, said Thursday morning he was aware of the “TuberVILLE” group. The senior from Lubbock will spend his fourth year in Raiderville this season, and it will be his second year as mayor.

Ancell said he is working with the university to coordinate plans for next week’s Raiderville. The area used for the last few years is under construction.

“The fact is Texas Tech Red Raider students — we’re very passionate about football games,” he said. “We’re passionate about showing support for the team. That’s exactly what those students are doing. They’re out there showing support. As far as myself and Raiderville, we’re looking forward to next week.”

On Thursday afternoon, Reyna said the first tent at the site was occupied by four people. A smaller blue tent to the right of the red one has two people staying in it. His tent provisions include blankets and pillows, sports drinks, a football and a frisbee.

Wednesday night was a cold one, he said. The students do not have air mattresses, and only one sleeping bag between the six.

The group has been moved away from the stadium since Wednesday night, and the stadium no longer offers protection from the wind, Reyna said. The tents sit on the southeast side of the stadium on top of gravel.

Plans for Thursday night included more pigskin throwing, a possible game of poker and trying to stay as warm as possible.

“The rocks — it’s not great,” he said. “I mean, the ground gets cold at night, but you gotta do what you gotta do.”

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Maybe the students can use the run-down shed that has been left over at that entrance from the construction a few years back. I'm not sure what it is used for now or why the construction office was left, ugly and unattractive as it is, but it or the area surrounding it could be used for protection from the elements. Maybe for making hot chocolate? Just a thought.
-Shane

I'm so glad the students have such a clear sense of what is important as they pursue higher education. I'm reminded of a quote from Eugene McCarthy: "Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important."

Sports are fine as a diversion from the stress of academics. I did 3 semesters at TTU in 69-70. When I transferred to another school, I spent a good bit of time taking placement exams and explaining that TTU was not a glorified shop class with cows. Maybe TTU would have a chance at being a top school if money was spent on academics.